Mechanically-operated figure toy



March 30 1926.

. J. G. WILSON MECHANICALLY OPERATED FIGURE TOY Filed May 28, i925 2 sheets-sheet 1 witness 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ww/wtoz I Gum/nap March 30 1926.

J. G. WILSON MECHANICALLY OPERATED. FIGURE TOY v Fi lec1 May 28, 1925 :UNITED STATES Patented Mar. 30 I V JOHN wnison, or CHICAGO, ILI,I1\TOIS.

I MECHANICALLY- PERATED i FIGURE TOY.

Application filed May 28, 1925. .Serial No; 33,498.

1,578,789 PATENT OFFICE.

T all whom it may concern).

Be it known that 1,: JOHN G.:W1LsoN,

' a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of-Illinois, have invented certain new. and useful Improvements in Mechanically-Operated-Figure Toys; and I do declarethe following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. I V

fMyinvention relates to improvements in I toys of the type havingmovably mounted are imitated in an elfectivemanner'.

lVith the foregoing in view, the invention resides in the novel subject matter hereinafter described and claimed, the description being supplemented by the accompanying drawings. I

Figure 1 I is a front elevation showing the normal positions of the two figures of the toy.

Figure 2 1s a central vertical longitudinal.

section.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Figure 4 is an end elevation.

Figure 5 is a vertical transverse sectional I view on line 55 of Fig. 1.

Figure 6 isa view similar to Fig. 1, but illustrating the manner in which the two figurestilt away from each other when they are lowered into contact with the base of the toy.

Figure 7 is a vertical transverse sectional view vas indicated by line 77 of Fig. 6.

I The form of construction selected for illus- V tration in the present application, will be -.late a small chicken house.

hereinafter rather specifically described, with the understanding however, that within the scope of the invention asclaimed, numerous modifications may be made.

The numeral 1 designates an elongated casing which is provided with a base 2, a roof 3, and a transparent front panel 4, said casing being preferably made to simu- Behind the panel 4 and, in parallel relation therewith, 1s a second panel 5; which may be: formed of any desired material, but is preferably of compress-ed fibre, on" account of theinherent stiffnessfthereofij The two panels- 4 and 5-are held in appropriate. spaced relation by vertical cleats 6 secured to the inner sldesof the casing ends, and to preventupward movementof said panels,'as well asto close the space between their upper edges, I prefer to make use of a horizontal strip 7whose ends may be nailed to certain of.

the strips 6. I

'Behind and substantially parallel with the panel 5 is a resilient plate 8 whose lower end is anchored tothe casing in any preferred manner. In the, construction shown, it is secured by nails 9 to. a' horizontal strip 10, :the llatteribeing in turn secured tothe base 2," byxnails 11.

cords are preferably passed through openings 13in thefupper-edge portion of the panel 5. Figures 14 are hung upon the lower endsrof thecords 12 and are located in the space between the panels 4 and 5, and

means is provided for alternately springing theplate 8 toward the panel 5 and release. ing said, plate, so that, the figures 14 will first be. moved downwardly and'will then;- be quickly jerkednupwardly'. These figureS preferably representgtwo roosters and when they arefreeof the base 2, they are vin balanced positions, as shown in Fig. 1.

They are, however, provided with feet 15.

which are adapted-to contact with the base 2 when thefigures are ,lowered,"and these legsare so positioned as .,to cause the. figures 14 to tilt rearwardly upon them, as said figures reach theirv extreme lowered posi-: tions. As illustrated, the feet 15 are posi-.

tioned forwardly of the "center .ofgravit'y and have their bottomportions upwardly and rearwardl inclined to efiectnormal setting of the' guresas shown in full'lines' 111 Figure 6. Thus, an effect ve simulation,

is'given, of two roosters preparing to jump toward each other, whenv fighting, and as soon as the cords 12 are jerked upwardly,

Two slidably supported cords 12 are connected to theupper end of the plate 8, and these:

not only are the figures 14 upwardly moved as shown in dotted lines in Fig.6, but the initial movement of'these figures is a forward tilting, giving the appearance that the roosters are umping toward each other and pecking with their bills. Moreover, as the figuresaare jerked into! the air from the, base 2, a rooster fight is still further simulated, giving the appearance that they are attempting to use their spurs.

While any desired means may be em ployed for actuating the. resilient plate or spring 8, I prefer to make use of a longitudinal crank shaft 16 for this-purpose.

One end of this shaft passes through one end ofthe. casing 1-,. in the present disclosure, and isprovid'ed with-=an-operating handle 17, while-the. other end of' said shaft isrotatably mounted in an: opening in the bearing" plate 18, said bearing plate being secured: to cleats 19 within the casing. In

the; form: of constructionshown, the crank 1-'72"is: of: course intended to be turnedby hand, so: that the shaft 16 is caused to alternately force thev plate 8 forwardly and release it. In this connection, it may be stated; that Fig. 51 shows. the normal: posi- 'tion of the plate 8, whereas Fig; 7 discloses it sprung forwardly by the; crank shaft 16. and discloses: the latter in readiness to release. said plate,- so that it may jerk upon the cords. 12 to: rapidly raise the: figures: 14 and at thev same time tilt them forwardly as ab one. set forth.

The fOllmiO ll construction shown may well bensed: when the device isto be operated by hand. If desined, however, the shaft l=6 could be connectedwith an electric motor, a spring motor, agwindz-wheel', or any other desired; means: whereby it could; be rotated,

I claimz. 1".v A; toy comprisizng 'a vertical panel, a plurality;- of; figures in f'rontvof' said panel,

aplurality: of cords on: which said figuresare hung, said cords being slid'ably sup.- ponted upon said' panel, a" spring mounted behind and having ai-portionjmovable toward and? from: said panel, said: cords being connected to said spring portion, and means foralternately' forcing said: spring portion toward said panel and; releasingit, thereby causing thespringtojerk: upon the eordsand effect: rapid movementof the figures;

2'. A toy compnis'ing a vertical panel, aplurality of figures: in'f'ront of" said panel, ap'luralityof, cords :on which said figures are hung, said cords extending" to the rear ofsaidpaneh and being slid-ablysupported a, resilient plate behind said panel rigidly anchored at one-end andihaving-its opposite endportionrfreeto move toward and fromthe panel, said; cords: being secured to said plate at points. remote from: its anchored end,

and means for alternately springing said" plate toward the panel and releasing it,

thereby causing the plateto jerk upon the cords and effect rapid movement of the figures. I

3. A toy comprising a base, a plurality of figures over said base, means connected to and loosely supporting said figures in bal- 3,-l1Qel;pDSll3l;0l1S5, and means for actuating said supporting means to lower the figures slowly toward the base and rapidly raise them from the latter, said figures having supporting base-engagiiig feet disposed for wardlyof: the center of gravity and having upwardly and rearwardly inclined bottom.

portions upon which they tilt: away fiom.-

each other when said! figures. are lowered. and said, feet engaged with thebase, where? by upon initial upward movement of said supporting means, said figures are caused to quickly tilt toward each. otheri 4. A structure as specified in claimw3;

said supporting and actuating means includ ing cords upon which said figures'a-re hung,

and a spring-"connected, to said cords for jerking them to quickly move the: figures upwardly.

5. A toy comprising a casing having a.

transparent front panel and another panel.

behind and parallel with said: transparent Panel, a resilient Plate behind said other panel and anchored at: its lower end, a. pair of figures loosely received between the? two panels, apa-ir of cords upon which said figuresare loosely hung, said cords. extend ing to the rear of. said other panehberngfrom the support, said: cords. havingthei n other ends connected: tosaid springpor.tion,.. and means for alternately: for-0mg" sands spring portion toward said support and? re leasing it, thereby causing the springto jerk upon the cords and effect movement of the figures;

Intestimony whereof I have hereunto afiixed my signature;

J (DI-IN G \VIESQNl 

